Latest Gorham fire not suspicious

GORHAM, Maine — Despite authorities’ concerns that it might be the fifth suspicious fire in two weeks, a fire early Wednesday morning at a small home on County Road has been ruled accidental.

That conclusion was reached Wednesday afternoon after officials from the Gorham Police Department, Gorham Fire Department and the state fire marshal’s office reviewed the investigation findings, Stephen McCausland, Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman, said in a news release.

After locating and interviewing the homeowner, investigators determined that Wednesday’s fire began in an electrical heater that the homeowner had been working on Tuesday.

Given that, authorities determined that Wednesday’s fire is not connected to the four Gorham arson investigations now under way.

The four suspicious fires occurred over the past two weeks and involved a garage, two vacant homes and a former grange hall, McCausland said. He said fire officials concluded the house and grange fires were deliberately set.

McCausland said Thursday that a team of 10 police and fire investigators is currently following up on leads in several Gorham neighborhoods.

Residents are encouraged to keep a watchful eye on their neighborhoods and report any suspicious activities, he said.

Anyone with information regarding the arson fires should call Gorham Police at 839-5581.